Distributed architecture for mobile streaming content delivery

ABSTRACT

A system for providing a distributed architecture for mobile streaming content delivery is disclosed. In particular, the system may include bypassing a master head end facility and its accompanying fiber distribution network to deliver a content stream directly to mobile cell sites. In order to do so, the system may receive, at a cell cite, a content stream directly from a content satellite and then format the content into a format suitable for delivery to a subscriber device. The system may receive, such as via a radio access network, a request from the subscriber device to access the content stream. In response to the request from the subscriber device, the system may deliver the formatted content stream to the subscriber device. The distributed architecture may also allow for delivering the content stream jointly with voice data services, such as those provided in a Long-Term Evolution network or other network.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to technologies for content distributionnetworks and network architecture, and more particularly, to adistributed architecture for mobile streaming content delivery.

BACKGROUND

In today's society, end users regularly utilize network and otherservice providers to gain access to the Internet, access softwareservices, request and receive various types of content, access softwareapplications, and perform a variety of other tasks and functions. Inorder to serve content and provide services to the end users in a moreefficient and effective manner, network and service providers oftenutilize content delivery networks and systems to distribute such contentand services. Content delivery networks and systems often provide highperformance, reliability, scalability, and cost savings associated withdistributing and providing content and services to end users. As aresult, content delivery networks have become increasingly popular fordelivering various types of media content, such as video content andaudio content, to fixed and mobile devices.

Currently, content delivery networks typically employ the use ofterrestrial-based facilities, such as master head end facilities, togather content from a wide variety of content sources. Such master headend facilities format the gathered content and provide a properlyformatted content stream to individual subscribers via a distributionnetwork. The master head end facilities can provide the content streamsto vast areas, such as, but not limited to, states, large territories,and other similarly-sized areas, and the coverage provided is typicallyonly limited by the cost of the distribution facilities. While suchmaster head end facilities provide substantial functionality andservices, they require complex content formatting and delivery systemsto handle the delivery of content to multiple points of distribution.Additionally, master head end facility equipment is capital intensive,and the networks that distribute the formatted content to the individualcell sites have a substantial impact on operating expenses. When masterhead end facilities are deployed in built-up areas or cities, utilizingwired cable distribution often involves complex configurations thatrequire high costs for providing wired installations. As a result,enhancing and improving content delivery networks may provide forimproved customer satisfaction, increased revenue for content providers,and reduced costs associated with delivering content to users.

SUMMARY

A system and accompanying methods for providing a distributedarchitecture for mobile streaming content delivery are disclosed. Inparticular, the system and methods may include providing a distributednetwork architecture that bypasses master head end facilities and theiraccompanying wired networks to deliver content streams directly tomobile cell sites. Streaming services may be delivered to users bysharing the same or similar network coverage, network infrastructure,and radio frequency spectrum utilized in mobile networks. In order toaccomplish this, the system and methods may involve utilizing asatellite-based architecture that utilizes one or more satellites todelivery content directly to each cell cite in a mobile network. Incertain embodiments, each cell site may be equipped with a satellitereceive antenna and a content controller server that interfaces with theradio access network at each cell to deliver content to mobilesubscribers.

The satellite receive antenna may be configured to receive an incomingcontent stream from one or more satellites and may pass the contentstream to the content controller server for processing. The contentcontroller server may format the incoming content stream from thesatellite receive antenna into a suitable format for delivery to mobilesubscribers. For example, the content controller server may format theincoming content stream into a channel lineup, much like a set-top boxon a cable television system, except that each channel in the lineup maybe distributed to multiple mobile subscribers. The content controllerserver may accept, via the radio access network, requests for thecontent stream from mobile subscribers, and then feed the formattedcontent stream to subscriber devices of the mobile subscribers using theradio access network. The mobile subscribers may then interact with thecontent stream using the subscriber devices.

In one embodiment, a system for providing a distributed architecture formobile streaming content delivery is disclosed. The system may include amemory that stores instructions and a processor that executes theinstructions to perform various operations of the system. The system mayperform an operation that includes receiving, at a cell site, a contentstream directly from a content satellite. Notably, the content streammay be received from the content satellite without passing through amaster head end facility or other similar structure. Once the contentstream is received, the system may perform an operation that includesformatting the content stream received from the content satellite into aformat suitable for delivery to a subscriber device. The system may thenperform an operation that includes receiving, from the subscriberdevice, a request to access the content stream. In certain embodiments,the request to access the content stream may be received via a radioaccess network. Finally, the system may perform an operation thatincludes delivering, to the subscriber device, the content stream havingthe format suitable for delivery to the subscriber device in response tothe request. In certain embodiments, the content stream may be deliveredvia the radio access network.

In another embodiment, a method for providing a distributed architecturefor mobile streaming content delivery is disclosed. The method mayinclude utilizing a memory that stores instructions, and a processorthat executes the instructions to perform the various functions of themethod. The method may include receiving, at a cell site, a contentstream directly from a content satellite. The content stream may bereceived directly from the content satellite without passing through amaster head end facility or other similar structure. Additionally, themethod may include formatting the content stream received from thecontent satellite into a format suitable for delivery to a subscriberdevice. Furthermore, the method may include receiving, from thesubscriber device, a request to access the content stream. In certainembodiments, the request to access the content stream may be receivedvia a radio access network. Moreover, the method may include delivering,to the subscriber device and via the radio access network, the contentstream having the format suitable for delivery to the subscriber device.

According to yet another embodiment, a computer-readable device havinginstructions for providing a distributed architecture for mobilestreaming content delivery is provided. The computer instructions, whichwhen loaded and executed by a processor, may cause the processor toperform operations including: receiving, at a cell site, a contentstream directly from a content satellite, wherein the content stream isreceived from the content satellite without passing through a masterhead end facility; formatting the content stream received from thecontent satellite into a format suitable for delivery to a subscriberdevice; receiving, from the subscriber device, a request to access thecontent stream, wherein the request to access the content stream isreceived via a radio access network; and delivering, to the subscriberdevice and via the radio access network, the content stream having theformat suitable for delivery to the subscriber device.

These and other features of the systems and methods for providing adistributed architecture for mobile streaming content delivery aredescribed in the following detailed description, drawings, and appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a traditional content deliveryarchitecture that involves utilizing a master head end facility thatincludes a fiber distribution network to deliver content to users.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a system for providing a distributedarchitecture for mobile streaming content delivery according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is schematic diagram of a sample network architecture for usewith the system of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sample cell site for use with the system and networkarchitecture as provided in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a sample method for providing adistributed architecture for mobile streaming content delivery accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a machine in the form of a computersystem within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause themachine to perform any one or more of the methodologies or operations ofthe systems and methods for providing a distributed architecture formobile streaming content delivery.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A system 200 and accompanying methods for providing a distributedarchitecture for mobile streaming content delivery are disclosed, asshown in FIG. 2-6. In particular, the system 200 and methods may involveproviding a distributed network architecture that bypasses master headend facilities 105 and their accompanying wired distribution networks todeliver content streams directly to mobile cell sites. Streaming contentservices may be delivered to users 201, 210 by sharing the same orsimilar network coverage, network infrastructure, and radio frequencyspectrum utilized in mobile networks. In order to accomplish this, thesystem 200 and methods may involve utilizing a satellite-basedarchitecture that utilizes one or more satellites 232, 233 to delivercontent directly to each cell cite 218 in a mobile network. In certainembodiments, each cell site 218 may be equipped with a satellite receiveantenna 221 and a content controller server 223 that interfaces with theradio access network (RAN) 215 at each cell site 218 to deliver contentto mobile subscribers, such as users 201, 210.

The satellite receive antenna 221 may be configured to receive anincoming content stream from one or more satellites 232, 233, and maypass the content stream to the content controller server 223 forprocessing. The content controller server 223 may format the incomingcontent stream from the satellite receive antenna 221 into a suitableformat for delivery to mobile subscribers. For example, the contentcontroller server 223 may format the incoming content stream into achannel lineup, much like a set-top box on a cable television system,except that each channel in the lineup may be distributed to multiplemobile subscribers. The content controller server 223 may accept, viathe RAN 215, requests for the content stream from mobile subscribers,and then feed the formatted content stream to subscriber devices of themobile subscribers using the RAN 215. The mobile subscribers may theninteract with the content stream using the subscriber devices, such asfirst and second user devices 202, 211.

As shown in FIG. 1, a traditional system 100 for delivering content byutilizing a master head end facility 105 is illustrated. The traditionalsystem 100 includes a master head end facility 105, along with fibercable 110 from the master head end facility 105 that is distributed toeach cell site 115 for providing streaming service delivery to one ormore user devices 102 in the system 100. During operation, thetraditional system 100 employs the master head end facility 105 togather content from a wide variety of sources, format the gatheredcontent, and deliver the formatted content to individual subscribers(e.g. user device 102) via a fiber distribution network connected to themaster head end facility 105. Typically, the master head end facility105 may employ complex video and audio formatting and delivery systemsto handle the content delivery to the master head end facility's 105many points of distribution.

In contrast to the system 100 provided in FIG. 1, a system 200 forproviding a distributed architecture for mobile streaming contentdelivery that involves bypassing a master head end facility 105 isdisclosed according to the present disclosure, which is shown in FIGS.2-4. The system 200 may be configured to support, but is not limited tosupporting, cloud computing services, content delivery services,satellite services, Long-Term Evolution services, telephone services,voice-over-internet protocol services (VoIP), software as a service(SaaS) applications, gaming applications and services, productivityapplications and services, mobile applications and services, and anyother computing applications and services. The system 200 may include afirst user 201 that may utilize first user device 202 to access content,data, and services, to initiate and participate in communicationssessions, or to perform a variety of other functions. As an example, thefirst user 201 may utilize first user device 202 to engage in acommunications session, such as a telephone call or a chat session, witha second user 210 that may be utilizing second user device 211. Asanother example, the first user 201 may utilize the first user device202 to request various types of media content from RAN 215, the EPC 225,the communications network 235, the satellite network 230, from thesecond user device 211, or a combination thereof.

In certain embodiments, the first user device 202 and second user device211 may be computers, servers, mobile devices, smartphones, computertablets, phablets, or any other computing devices. Illustratively, thefirst user device 202 is shown as a smartphone in FIG. 2. In oneembodiment, the first user device 202 may include a memory 203 thatincludes instructions, and a processor 204 that executes theinstructions from the memory 203 to perform various operations that areperformed by the first user device 202. The processor 204 may behardware, software, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the firstuser device 202 may include a camera 205, which may be utilized tocapture video, image, or other content. Furthermore, the first userdevice 202 may also include a global positioning sensor 206 that may beconfigured to provide location information for the first user device 202and location information for the first user 201 that is using the firstuser device 202. The second user device 211 may include a memory 212that includes instructions, and a processor 213 that executes theinstructions from the memory 212 to perform various operations that areperformed by the second user device 211. The processor 213 may behardware, software, or a combination thereof. Illustratively, seconduser device 211 is shown as a mobile device in FIG. 2.

The first user 201 and the second user 210 may utilize the first userdevice 202 and second user device 211, respectively, to participate incommunications sessions with each other. Additionally, the first user201 and the second user 210 may utilize the first user device 202 andthe second user device 211 to access and obtain various types of contentand services, such as, but not limited to, audio content, video content,web content, text content, any type of content, or any combinationthereof. Furthermore, the first and second users 201, 210 may utilizethe first and second user devices 202, 211 to perform a variety of othertasks and functions. In certain embodiments, the first user device 202and second user device 211 may include software applications that mayinclude a cloud-based application, gaming application, an internet-basedapplication, a browser application, a mobile application, a productivityapplication, a video application, a music application, a streaming mediaapplication, a social media application, any other type of application,or a combination thereof. In certain embodiments, the softwareapplications may include one or more graphical user interfaces for thefirst and second users 201, 210 so as to enable the first and secondusers 201, 210 to readily interact with the software applications. Incertain embodiments, at least a portion of the software application maybe configured to execute directly on the first user device 202 andsecond user device 211, however, in other embodiments, the softwareapplication may be configured to execute on the other devices andcomponents in the system 200.

The system 200 may also be configured to include a hardware element 220,which may reside within each cell site 218 of a RAN 215. In certainembodiments, the RAN 215 may be configured to include any of thefunctional features of a traditional RAN. In certain embodiments, thehardware element 220 may include or comprise an eNodeB element, such asused in a Long Term Evolution network or other similar network, and mayalso include any number of processors and memories. The hardware element220 may be configured to connect directly with the first and second userdevices 202, 211 via the RAN 215. For example, the hardware element 220may be configured to connect with the first and second user devices 201,211 by receiving connection requests from the first and second userdevices 210, 210 via the cellular network antenna 222. Additionally, thehardware element 220 may include any of the functionality of a basestation utilized in mobile communication networks. Furthermore, thehardware element 220 may include a satellite content receive antenna221, which may be configured to communicate with the content satellites232, 233 and receive incoming content streams, data, and services comingfrom the content satellites 232, 233, the satellite network 230, or acombination thereof.

Moreover, the hardware element 220 may further include a contentcontroller server 223 that may be housed within a cell site cabinet 224located at each cell site 218. The cell site cabinet 224 may alsoinclude RAN 215 equipment, additional servers, or any other equipment.The content controller server 223 may include one or more processors andmemories that may work in conjunction with each other to receiveincoming content streams from the content satellites 232, 233 via thesatellite content receive antenna 221. Once the content streams arereceived by the content controller server 223, the content controllerserver 223 may format the content stream into a format that is suitablefor delivery to one or more subscriber devices, such as first and seconduser devices 202, 211. For example, the content stream may be formattedinto a channel lineup much like a set-top-box utilized with a cabletelevision, except that the content stream may be formatted such thatthe content stream may be distributed to more than one subscriberdevice. The content stream may be formatted for delivery to a Long TermEvolution architecture, formatted based on bandwidth restrictionsassociated with the first and second user devices 202, 211, formattedbased on content types, formatted based on latency requirements for thesystem 200, formatted based on resolution requirements, formatted basedon any requirement, and any combination thereof.

The content controller server 223 may be configured to receive requestsfor the content stream from the first and second user devices 202, 211via the RAN 215 and cellular network antenna 222. Upon receivingrequests for the content stream, the content controller server 223 maydeliver the formatted content stream to the first and second userdevices 202, 211 via the RAN 215, the cellular network antenna 222, or acombination thereof. In certain embodiments, the content controllerserver 223 may also be configured to jointly deliver the formattedcontent stream with voice data services, such as Long Term Evolutionservices, to each of the first and second user devices 202, 211. Forexample, the content controller server 223 may provide voice dataservices associated with a call that the first user 201 is engaged in,along with a content stream associated with a movie that the user wantsto view on the first user device 202. In certain embodiments, the cellsite 218 in conjunction with the content controller server 223 mayutilize resource blocks associated with delivering Long Term Evolutionor other similar services.

The system 200 may also include a plurality of networks 225, 230, 235.The network 225 may be an evolved packet core (EPC) network 225 that maybe configured to serve as a core network in the system 200. The EPCnetwork 225 may be configured to provide both a voice and datanetworking framework for connecting the first and second users 201, 210,such as on a Long Term Evolution network. In certain embodiments, theEPC network 225 may include any of the components and functionalityfound in traditional EPC networks 225, and may be configured to becommunicatively linked with communications network 235. The network 230may be a satellite network 230 that may utilize one or more contentsatellites 232, 233 to deliver media content and services that may berequested by the first and second users 201, 210. In FIGS. 2-3, contentsatellite 232 may be an audio content satellite utilized for providingaudio content, and content satellite 233 may be a video satellite thatmay be utilized for providing video content. The content satellites 232,233 may be configured provide content directly to each of the cell sites218 without having to transmit the content to a master head end facility105 or other similar facility. The satellite network 230 may include anyof the components and functionality found in a traditional satellitenetwork. The EPC network 225 and the satellite network 230 may beconfigured to communicatively link with each of the cell sites 218 viathe hardware element 220.

The communications network 235 of the system 200 may be configured tolink each of the devices in the system 200 to one another, and beconfigured to transmit, generate, and receive any information and datatraversing the system 200. In one embodiment, the communications network235 may include any number servers, databases, or other componentry. Thecommunications network 235 may be configured to communicatively linkwith the RANs 215, the EPC network 225, the satellite network 230, theserver 240, the database 255, and the server 260. The communicationsnetwork 135 may also include and be connected to a cloud-computingnetwork, a wireless network, an ethernet network, a satellite network, abroadband network, a cellular network, a private network, a cablenetwork, the Internet, an internet protocol network, a multiprotocollabel switching (MPLS) network, a content distribution network, or anycombination thereof. In one embodiment, the communications network 235may be part of a single autonomous system that is located in aparticular geographic region, or be part of multiple autonomous systemsthat span several geographic regions.

Notably, the functionality of the system 200 may be supported andexecuted by using any combination of the servers 240 and 260. In certainembodiments, the server 240 may include a memory 241 that includesinstructions, and a processor 242 that executes the instructions fromthe memory 241 to perform various operations that are performed by theserver 240. The processor 242 may be hardware, software, or acombination thereof. In certain embodiments, the servers 240 and 260 maybe network servers, routers, gateways, computers, mobile devices or anyother suitable computing device. In certain embodiments, the server 240may be communicatively linked to the communications network 235, the EPCnetwork 225, any network, or any combination thereof. Additionally, incertain embodiments, the server 240 may store content streams, metadataidentifying the content streams, information relating to requests forthe content streams, any other information, or any combination thereof.

The database 255 of the system 200 may be utilized to store and relayinformation that traverses the system 200, cache content that traversesthe system 200, store data about each of the devices in the system 200and perform any other typical functions of a database. In certainembodiments, the database 255 may be connected to or reside within theRAN 215, the EPC network 225, the satellite network 230, thecommunications network 235, or a combination thereof. Additionally, thedatabase 255 may include a processor and memory or be connected to aprocessor and memory to perform the various operation associated withthe database 255. In certain embodiments, the database 255 may beconnected to servers 240, 260, first user device 202, second user device211, the cell sites 218, the content receive antenna 221, the cellularnetwork antenna 222, the content controller server 223 the hardwareelement 220, or any combination thereof. The database 255 may also storeinformation and metadata obtained from the system 200, store metadataand other information associated with the first and second users 201,210, store user profiles associated with the first and second users 201,210, store device profiles associated with the first and second userdevices 202, 211, store location information, store communicationstraversing the system 200, store user preferences, store informationassociated with any device or signal in the system 200, store contentstreams, store information relating to requests for content, storeinformation relating to patterns of usage relating to the first userdevice 202 and second user device 211, store any information traversingthe system 200, or any combination thereof. Furthermore, the database255 may be configured to process queries sent to it by any device in thesystem 200.

Operatively, the system 200 may provide a distributed architecture formobile streaming content delivery. In an example scenario, the firstuser 201 may desire to see a particular movie using the first userdevice 202. The first user 201 may send a request for the movie fileusing the first user device 202. The request for the movie file may bereceived, via the RAN 215, by the content controller server 223 of thehardware element 220. The content satellites 232, 233 may provide thecontent stream associated with the movie file directly to the hardwareelement 220 without the content stream having to pass through a masterhead end facility 105, other similar facility, a fiber distributionnetwork, or any combination thereof. The content stream from the contentsatellites 232, 233 may be received by the hardware element 220 via thesatellite receive antenna 221. The content controller server 223 mayreceive the incoming stream associated with the movie file from thesatellite receive antenna 221.

Once the content controller server 223 receives the content streamassociated with the movie file, the content controller server 223 mayformat the content for delivery to the first user device 202. Thecontent stream, for example, may be formatted into a channel lineup orother desired format. Once formatted, the content stream may be providedto the first user device 202 by the content controller server 223. Incertain embodiments, the formatted content stream may be provided to thefirst user device 202 using the cellular network antenna 222 of thehardware element 220 and the RAN 215. The first user device 202 mayaccess the formatted content stream using the first user device 202 andmay then watch the movie provided in the content stream. In certainembodiments, the content controller server 223 may also facilitatedelivering a requested content stream along with voice data services tothe first user device 202. For example, the content controller server223 may jointly deliver the movie file, along with supporting voice dataservices associated with a phone call that the first user 201 is havingwith the second user 210.

Notably, as shown in FIG. 2, the system 200 may perform any of theoperative functions disclosed herein by utilizing the processingcapabilities of server 260, the storage capacity of the database 255, orany other component of the system 200 to perform the operative functionsdisclosed herein. The server 260 may include one or more processors 262that may be configured to process any of the various functions of thesystem 200. The processors 262 may be software, hardware, or acombination of hardware and software. Additionally, the server 260 mayalso include a memory 261, which stores instructions that the processors262 may execute to perform various operations of the system 200. Forexample, the server 260 may assist in processing loads handled by thevarious devices in the system 200, such as, but not limited to,receiving content streams directly from content satellites 232, 233,formatting a content stream into a format suitable for delivery to asubscriber device, receiving a request to access the content stream,delivering the formatted content stream to the subscriber device inresponse to the request to access the content, and performing any othersuitable operations conducted in the system 200 or otherwise. In oneembodiment, multiple servers 260 may be utilized to process thefunctions of the system 200. The server 260 and other devices in thesystem 200, may utilize the database 255 for storing data about thedevices in the system 200 or any other information that is associatedwith the system 200. In one embodiment, multiple databases 255 may beutilized to store data in the system 200.

Although FIGS. 2-4 illustrate specific example configurations of thevarious components of the system 200, the system 200 may include anyconfiguration of the components, which may include using a greater orlesser number of the components. For example, the system 200 isillustratively shown as including a first user device 202, a second userdevice 211, a RAN 215, cell sites 218, hardware elements 220, an EPCnetwork 225, a cellular network antenna 222, a content controller server223, a satellite network 230, content satellites 232, 233, acommunications network 235, a server 240, a server 260, and a database255. However, the system 200 may include any number of first userdevices 201, any number of second user devices 211, any number of RANs215, any number of cell sites 218, any number of hardware elements 220,any number of EPC networks 225, any number of cellular network antennas222, any number of content controller servers 223, any number ofsatellite networks 230, any number of content satellites, 232, 233, anynumber of communications networks 235, any number of servers 240, 260,any number of databases 255, or any number of any of the othercomponents in the system 200. Furthermore, in certain embodiments,substantial portions of the functionality and operations of the system200 may be performed by other networks and systems that may be connectedto system 200.

As shown in FIG. 5, an exemplary method 500 for providing a distributedarchitecture for mobile streaming content delivery is schematicallyillustrated, and may include, at step 502, receiving, at a cell site218, a content stream directly from a content satellite 232, 233.Notably, the content stream may be received from the content satellites232, 233 without the content stream having to pass through a master headend facility 105. In certain embodiments, the content stream may betransmitted by the content satellites 232, 233, the satellite network230, any combination thereof, or by any other appropriate device ornetwork, to the cell site 218. The content stream may be received by thesatellite receive antenna 221 of the hardware element 220 located at thecell site 218. At step 504, the method 500 may include formatting thecontent stream into a format suitable for delivery to a subscriberdevice, such as first user device 102. For example, the content streammay be formatted into a channel lineup or into any other desired formatfor delivery to one or more subscriber devices. In certain embodiments,the formatting of the content stream may be performed by utilizing thecontent controller server 223, the content satellites 232, 233, theserver 240, the server 260, any combination thereof, or by any otherappropriate device.

At step 506, the method 500 may include determining if a request toaccess the content stream has been received. In certain embodiments, thedetermination may be performed by utilizing the RAN 215, the cellularnetwork antenna 222, the content controller server 223, the hardwareelement 220, the server 240, the server 260, any combination thereof, orby any other appropriate device. If a request to access the contentstream has not been received, the method 500 may include repeating step506 until a request is received. When a request has been received, themethod 500 may include, at step 508, determining if a request for voicedata services has been received from a device, such as a subscriberdevice. For example, the first user device 202 may attempt to initiate avoice call with the second user device 211. In certain embodiments, therequest for the voice data services may be sent by the first user device202, the second user device 211, any combination thereof, or by anyother appropriate device. Also, in certain embodiments, thedetermination as to whether a request for voice data services has beenreceived may be performed by utilizing the cellular network antenna 222,the content controller server 223, the hardware element 220, anycombination thereof, or by any other appropriate device.

If the request for voice data services has not been received, the method500 may include, at step 510, delivering, via the RAN 215, the formattedcontent stream to the subscriber device so that a user may access andinteract with the content stream. In certain embodiments, the formattedcontent stream may be delivered by utilizing the content controllerserver 223, the cellular network antenna 222, the hardware element 220,the cell site 218, any combination thereof, or by any other appropriatedevice. If, however, the request for the voice data services has beenreceived, the method 500 may include, at step 512, jointly delivering,via the RAN 215, the formatted content stream and requested voice dataservices to the subscriber device so that a user may access the contentstream and voice data services. In certain embodiments, the formattedcontent stream and voice data services may be delivered by the contentcontroller server 223, the cellular network antenna 222, the hardwareelement 220, the cell site 218, any combination thereof, or by any otherappropriate device. When the content stream and/or voice data servicesare delivered to the subscriber device, the subscriber device may enablea user to access the content and voice data services.

Notably, the system 200 and methods disclosed herein may includeadditional functionality and features. For example, in certainembodiments, the system 200 and methods may include delivering thecontent streams by sharing the same Long-Term Evolution coverage,network infrastructure, and radio-frequency spectrum utilized by thefirst and second user devices 202, 211. Additionally, in certainembodiments, if a Single Frequency Network (SFN) architecture ofenhanced Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service (eMBMS) is utilizedwith the system 200, the systems and methods may include utilizingsymbol synchronization of transmissions occurring within the SFN so asto eliminate intercell interference that may be caused by the use of asingle cell site frequency. Also, when utilizing the SFN architecture,the systems and methods may include utilizing a buffer ring of cellsites 218 to avoid potential interference around each SFN clusterutilized in the system 200.

If either a SFN architecture, unicast architecture, or both, areutilized with the system 200 and methods, the system 200 and methods mayalso include tagging frames of the content stream, along withsynchronization, to ensure that each exact frame of the content streammay be delivered to adjacent cell sites 218 at the same time. Frametagging and synchronization may be utilized to prevent content glare andshadowing that may be associated with the content stream. In certainembodiments, the content controller server 223 may be integrated intothe RAN 215. For example, the content controller server 223 may beintegrated into a Long Term Evolution RAN scheduler or other scheduler,into Long Term Evolution facilities, or both. In certain embodiments,the content streams may be formatted according to OrthogonalFrequency-Division Multiple Access configurations. In certainembodiments, the system 200 and methods may be utilized to increasemanagement flexibility in software defined networks (SDNs) and networkfunction virtualization (NFV). In certain embodiments, the system 200and methods may be configured to share Long Term Evolution systemcapacity on demand, and may be utilized to replace ground repeatersystems complemented in satellite broadcasting in urban and suburbanenvironments.

The system 200 and methods may also include enabling the contentsatellites 232, 233 to format the content stream, such as into a channellineup, prior to transmitting the content stream to the cell site 218.Additionally, in certain embodiments, the content satellites 232, 233may be configured to perform other operative functions performed by thecontent controller server 223 or other devices in the system 200.

Referring now also to FIG. 6, at least a portion of the methodologiesand techniques described with respect to the exemplary embodiments ofthe system 200 can incorporate a machine, such as, but not limited to,computer system 600, or other computing device within which a set ofinstructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one ormore of the methodologies or functions discussed above. The machine maybe configured to facilitate various operations conducted by the system200. For example, the machine may be configured to, but is not limitedto, assist the system 200 by providing processing power to assist withprocessing loads experienced in the system 200, by providing storagecapacity for storing instructions or data traversing the system 200, orby assisting with any other operations conducted by or within the system200.

In some embodiments, the machine may operate as a standalone device. Insome embodiments, the machine may be connected (e.g., using EPC network225, satellite network 230, communications network 235, RAN 215, anothernetwork, or a combination thereof) to and assist with operationsperformed by other machines and systems, such as, but not limited to,the first user device 202, the second user device 211, the hardwareelement 220, the satellites 232, 233, the server 240, the database 255,the server 260, or any combination thereof. The machine may be connectedwith any component in the system 200. In a networked deployment, themachine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client user machinein a server-client user network environment, or as a peer machine in apeer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine maycomprise a server computer, a client user computer, a personal computer(PC), a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a controlsystem, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable ofexecuting a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specifyactions to be taken by that machine. Further, while a single machine isillustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include anycollection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (ormultiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein.

The computer system 600 may include a processor 602 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a mainmemory 604 and a static memory 606, which communicate with each othervia a bus 608. The computer system 600 may further include a videodisplay unit 610, which may be, but is not limited to, a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), a flat panel, a solid state display, or a cathode raytube (CRT). The computer system 600 may include an input device 612,such as, but not limited to, a keyboard, a cursor control device 614,such as, but not limited to, a mouse, a disk drive unit 616, a signalgeneration device 618, such as, but not limited to, a speaker or remotecontrol, and a network interface device 620.

The disk drive unit 616 may include a machine-readable medium 622 onwhich is stored one or more sets of instructions 624, such as, but notlimited to, software embodying any one or more of the methodologies orfunctions described herein, including those methods illustrated above.The instructions 624 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 604, the static memory 606, or within theprocessor 602, or a combination thereof, during execution thereof by thecomputer system 600. The main memory 604 and the processor 602 also mayconstitute machine-readable media.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatusand systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety ofelectronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions intwo or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices withrelated control and data signals communicated between and through themodules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit.Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, andhardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein are intended for operation as software programsrunning on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementationscan include, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

The present disclosure contemplates a machine-readable medium 622containing instructions 624 so that a device connected to the EPCnetwork 225, satellite network 230, communications network 235, RAN 215,another network, or a combination thereof, can send or receive voice,video or data, and to communicate over the EPC network 225, satellitenetwork 230, communications network 235, RAN 215, another network, or acombination thereof, using the instructions. The instructions 624 mayfurther be transmitted or received over the EPC network 225, satellitenetwork 230, communications network 235, RAN 215, another network, or acombination thereof, via the network interface device 620.

While the machine-readable medium 622 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should betaken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralizedor distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) thatstore the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by themachine and that causes the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present disclosure.

The terms “machine-readable medium,” “machine-readable device, or“computer-readable device” shall accordingly be taken to include, butnot be limited to: memory devices, solid-state memories such as a memorycard or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile)memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile)memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape; orother self-contained information archive or set of archives isconsidered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storagemedium. The “machine-readable medium,” “machine-readable device,” or“computer-readable device” may be non-transitory, and, in certainembodiments, may not include a wave or signal per se. Accordingly, thedisclosure is considered to include any one or more of amachine-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listed herein andincluding art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which thesoftware implementations herein are stored.

The illustrations of arrangements described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Other arrangements may be utilized andderived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions andchanges may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure.Figures are also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale.Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may beminimized. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to beregarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Thus, although specific arrangements have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated toachieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific arrangementshown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations orvariations of various embodiments and arrangements of the invention.Combinations of the above arrangements, and other arrangements notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the above description. Therefore, it is intended thatthe disclosure not be limited to the particular arrangement(s) disclosedas the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but thatthe invention will include all embodiments and arrangements fallingwithin the scope of the appended claims.

The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, anddescribing embodiments of this invention. Modifications and adaptationsto these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art andmay be made without departing from the scope or spirit of thisinvention. Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would beevident to an artisan with ordinary skill in the art that saidembodiments can be modified, reduced, or enhanced without departing fromthe scope and spirit of the claims described below.

We claim:
 1. A system, comprising: a memory that stores instructions;and a processor that executes the instructions to perform operations,the operations comprising: receiving, at a satellite receive antennaincluded within a hardware element residing within a cell site, acontent stream directly from a content satellite, wherein the contentstream is received from the content satellite without passing through amaster head end facility; formatting the content stream received fromthe content satellite into a format suitable for delivery to asubscriber device, wherein the content stream is further formatted basedon a content type of the content stream, wherein the content stream isformatted by utilizing a content controller server housed within a cellsite cabinet of the hardware element located at the cell site, whereinthe content stream is received by the content controller server from thesatellite receive antenna included within the hardware element residingwithin the cell site; tagging frames of the content stream to preventcontent glare and shadowing associated with the content stream;utilizing a buffer ring of cell sites including the cell site to avoidinterference around a cluster of cell sites; receiving, from thesubscriber device, a request to access the content stream, wherein therequest to access the content stream is received via a radio accessnetwork; and delivering, to the subscriber device and via the radioaccess network, the content stream having the format suitable fordelivery to the subscriber device in response to the request.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise formattingthe content stream into the format suitable for delivery to thesubscriber device by formatting the content stream into a channellineup.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the operations furthercomprise merging the content stream and the channel lineup with voicedata services associated with the subscriber device.
 4. The system ofclaim 3, wherein the operations further comprise jointly delivering, viathe radio access network, the content stream, the channel lineup, andthe voice data services to the subscriber device via the radio accessnetwork.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations furthercomprise receiving the content stream from the content satellite withoutthe content stream having to pass through a fiber distribution network.6. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further compriseformatting the content stream into an orthogonal frequency divisionmultiple access configuration so as to enable access for a plurality ofsubscriber devices.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the operationsfurther comprise utilizing symbol synchronization to eliminateinter-cell interference occurring in the system when a single frequencynetwork architecture is utilized for the system.
 8. The system of claim1, wherein the operations further comprise utilizing frame tagging onthe content stream to ensure each frame of the content stream isdelivered to adjacent cell sites at the same time.
 9. A method,comprising: receiving, at a satellite receive antenna included within ahardware element residing within a cell site, a content stream directlyfrom a content satellite, wherein the content stream is received fromthe content satellite without passing through a master head endfacility; formatting, by utilizing instructions from memory that areexecuted by a processor, the content stream received from the contentsatellite into a format suitable for delivery to a subscriber device,wherein the content stream is further formatted based on a content typeof the content stream, wherein the content stream is formatted byutilizing a content controller server housed within a cell site cabinetof the hardware element located at the cell site, wherein the contentstream is received by the content controller server from the satellitereceive antenna included within the hardware element residing within thecell site; tagging frames of the content stream to prevent content glareand shadowing associated with the content stream; utilizing a bufferring of cell sites including the cell site to avoid interference arounda cluster of cell sites; receiving, from the subscriber device, arequest to access the content stream, wherein the request to access thecontent stream is received via a radio access network; and delivering,to the subscriber device and via the radio access network, the contentstream having the format suitable for delivery to the subscriber devicein response to the request.
 10. The method of claim 9, furthercomprising formatting the content stream into the format suitable fordelivery to the subscriber device by formatting the content stream intoa channel lineup.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising mergingthe content stream and the channel lineup with voice data servicesassociated with the subscriber device.
 12. The method of claim 11,further comprising jointly delivering, via the radio access network, thecontent stream, the channel lineup, and the voice data services to thesubscriber device via the radio access network.
 13. The method of claim9, further comprising receiving the content stream from the contentsatellite without the content stream having to pass through aterrestrial distribution network.
 14. The method of claim 9, furthercomprising utilizing a unicast architecture that enables the contentstream to share radio resources with other data content.
 15. The methodof claim 14, further comprising, while utilizing the unicastarchitecture, tagging frames in the content stream to ensure each frameof the content stream is delivered to adjacent cell sites at the sametime.
 16. The method of claim 9, further comprising formatting thecontent stream into an orthogonal frequency division multiple accessconfiguration so as to enable access for a plurality of subscriberdevices.
 17. The method of claim 9, further comprising utilizing symbolsynchronization to eliminate inter-cell interference when utilizing asingle frequency network architecture.
 18. A computer-readable devicecomprising instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause theprocessor to perform operations comprising: receiving, at a satellitereceive antenna included within a hardware element residing within acell site, a content stream directly from a content satellite, whereinthe content stream is received from the content satellite withoutpassing through a master head end facility; formatting the contentstream received from the content satellite into a format suitable fordelivery to a subscriber device, wherein the content stream is furtherformatted based on a content type of the content stream, wherein thecontent stream is formatted by utilizing a content controller serverhoused within a cell site cabinet of the hardware element located at thecell site, wherein the content stream is received by the contentcontroller server from the satellite receive antenna included within thehardware element residing within the cell site; tagging frames of thecontent stream to prevent content glare and shadowing associated withthe content stream; utilizing a buffer ring of cell sites including thecell site to avoid interference around a cluster of cell sites;receiving, from the subscriber device, a request to access the contentstream, wherein the request to access the content stream is received viaa radio access network; and delivering, to the subscriber device and viathe radio access network, the content stream having the format suitablefor delivery to the subscriber device in response to the request. 19.The computer-readable device of claim 18, wherein the operations furthercomprise formatting the content stream into the format suitable fordelivery to the subscriber device by formatting the content stream intoa channel lineup.
 20. The computer-readable device of claim 19, whereinthe operations further comprise merging the content stream and thechannel lineup with voice data services associated with the subscriberdevice.